Interview with Chachi's Mexican Restaurent - Kingwood

As part of our ongoing "Getting to Know Your Local Businesses" series, 

this week we sat down withChachi's Mexican Restaurant!

Tell us a bit about your business: What does your business offer, and how long have you been around?
Chachi’s Mexican Restaurant opened on September 26, 2008, and for over 17 years we’ve been proudly serving Kingwood fresh, high-quality Tex-Mex.

How did you decide to get involved in this line of work? How did the business get started?
In 1990, Luis Jaimes began working as a busboy at Ninfa’s. He had a dream of one day owning his own restaurant. While working at Ninfa’s in Kingwood, he met Kathie — his waitress — who affectionately gave him the nickname “Chachi” after the character from the TV show Happy Days.
The two fell in love, built a life together, and in 2008 opened Chachi’s Mexican Restaurant. Seventeen years later, they now own both Chachi’s Mexican Restaurant and Chachi’s Next Door in Kingwood Town Center.

Tell us a few things you are proud of about your business. What are you known for? What separates you from the competition?
We are incredibly proud of our dedication to fresh ingredients, amazing food, great service, fresh ingredients, and the welcoming atmosphere that greets you the moment you walk through our doors. We believe consistency, quality, and genuine hospitality are what keeps guests coming back.

What is your favorite part of running this business?
Our favorite part is getting to serve people and make them happy. After nearly four decades in the restaurant industry, Luis loves seeing families who have dined with us for years now bringing in their children — and even their grandchildren. Watching generations grow up enjoying Chachi’s is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do, and it reminds us why we care so much about creating a place that truly feels like home.

Who is your ideal customer/client? Who do you serve best?
Everyone is welcome at Chachi’s — young people grabbing dinner with friends, families celebrating together, and retirees who have been dining with us for years. No matter who you are, we strive to offer an experience that feels just right for you.

Can you tell us something about yourself as the business owner? What is your background?
Luis has been in the restaurant industry for over 38 years and truly understands the value of hard work, great service, and making every guest feel valued and cared for. He has quite literally worked every position in a restaurant—starting as a dishwasher and food runner, then moving through roles as a line cook, busboy, waiter, bartender, and manager—giving 100% in every role along the way. Having lived in the area most of his life, he’s not just a business owner, but a dedicated
member of the community who takes pride in creating a place where neighbors, friends, and families can come together.

Are there any special promotions, annual sales, or special events that you'd like to mention?
We offer weekday lunch specials available Monday–Friday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, as well as a popular happy hour Monday–Friday from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. In addition, we feature a daily dinner special that’s offered off-menu, giving guests something new and exciting to look forward to. All of our promotions provide great value while still delivering the quality and freshness Chachi’s is known for.

Is there any other information you'd like your potential customers/clients to know about your business?
We believe family-owned businesses bring something special to a community, and we are proud to be one of them. While many places are becoming more mainstream and starting to feel the same, we’ve chosen to stay true to our core values rather than relying on premade shortcuts. Across the country, so many shopping centers are beginning to look alike—but at Chachi’s, our goal is to bring warmth, authenticity, and a true family feel to every visit. For many families, Chachi’s has become a familiar gathering place, and we love knowing that parents often meet their kids here straight from college when they come home for breaks. We stay committed to using fresh, authentic ingredients, including making all of our salsas and sauces in-house, fresh daily. We continue to use the same trusted recipes we opened our doors with nearly two decades ago, even when those choices are more expensive or harder to maintain. At the same time, we work hard to keep our prices fair in today’s
challenging economy so that everyone can enjoy a great meal with us. We’ve grown alongside the community we serve, sharing in both its celebrations and its challenges. After the devastation
of Hurricane Harvey, we rebuilt from the ground up—but even then, we found a way to keep showing up. With a food truck and a limited Chachi’s menu, we continued serving guests on our patio, offering a place to take a breath, share a meal, and find a small sense of normalcy while so many homes and businesses around us were still recovering.

How do you see your business growing and improving over the next couple of years?
We look forward to continuing to serve our guests, contribute to the Kingwood community, and stay true to the original family values that built Chachi’s. As an active member of the East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and the Partnership Lake Houston Chamber of Commerce, we look forward to expanding our reach within the community. As we grow, our focus remains on delivering great food, warm hospitality, and a place where everyone feels welcome, while continuing to support local sports teams, teachers, and school fundraisers that mean so much to the families we serve.

For more information about Chachi's Mexican restaurant, visit their website.